Kyoto’s Power Spot, Kurama Temple, Home of The Tengu / 鞍馬寺

Kyoto’s Power Spot, Kurama Temple, Home of The Tengu

Moving the capital from ancient Nara to Heiankyo, old Kyoto, was no random decision taken towards the end of the eighth century AD by the Emperor Kammu. For it was mainly due to reasons associated with directional taboo adopted from Chinese geomancy that Kyoto was considered a particularly auspicious place for the location of the new, peaceful capital of Japan. Being surrounded by mountainous areas on three sides as well as abundant, flowing waters of the Kamo、Katsura and Takano rivers proved that Kyoto could be both safe and fertile. Kyoto itself is considered sacred in the hearts of most Japanese as is served as the power base of the entire country for over one thousand years.

The City of Kyoto and its environs are also places with a high concentration of religious structures, mostly Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. In accordance with Shinto practices, the indigenous belief system of the Japanese people, certain natural objects such as trees, rocks and streams of water in which it is felt the spirit of a kami (god) resides will be singled out by special decorations. In some cases, an energy centre on the grounds of a shrine or temple will be distinguished as a sacred spot since it would be felt that there is a source of power generated there. A similar phenomenon exists in Western culture with ley lines.

The place considered the prime power spot of Kyoto is to be found slightly to the north of the centre of the city in the region of Mt. Kurama where the Kurama Temple is located. Kurama Temple is famous for its magical associations in the form of this power spot, its accompanying spirit king named Tengu and the associated Kurama Fire Festival that takes place in the area annually on 22 October. It was here that Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the famed samurai general, was said to have learned the secrets of swordsmanship from the Tengu on Mt. Kurama. The god worshipped at this temple is called Sonten, ‘the cosmic energy that gives life to every living thing.’ Sonten is described as being an amalgamation of three different deities symbolised by the Kurama Tengu, a mountain wizard having wings on his back, a long beard and an exceptionally long nose.

Very visible being in front of the main hall of Kurama Temple is a designed pavestone of a hexagonal mosaic of rocks of various shapes with a triangle in its centre, the entirety of which is surrounded by a six-pointed star. This is considered to be the main power spot of Kyoto where one can be energised simply by standing on the triangle. Walking around the grounds of the temple will lead one to other sacred areas as well as a secondary power spot to perhaps harness more energy.

The general term tengu refers to the most famous type of mountain spirits in Japan. They are easily identified by male images with red faces and ridiculously long noses. Legend has it that they dwell in tall cedars as well as pine trees in the mountains and had wings with which to fly high up into the sky. The tengu entities are not human, a Buddha or a kami; they are mischievous beings that tempt humans to commit evil, hence their comically demonic appearance, although they could sometimes bring good fortune.